KARACHI: The China Power Hub Generation Company (CPHGC) has successfully synchronised one of its two 660MW coal-fired power plants with the national grid, the company announced on Monday.

The synchronisation of the first unit was achieved ahead of schedule and was realised within the agreed technical parameters, said the company release. After the commencement of commercial operations at CPHGC, the project will add 9 billion kWh of electricity of the national grid every year meeting electricity needs of 4 million households in the country.

The project will run on imported coal and will operate with super-critical technology at a total installed capacity of 1,320MW. The company also announced that it plans to complete the second 660MW unit within the stipulated time and synchronisation would be completed by Aug 2019.

While announcing the completion of project, CPHGC Chief Executive Zhao Yonggang appreciated the team work and efforts by Pakistani and Chinese employees to complete the project before time.

Mr Yonggang said that the 2x660MW plant is a priority project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the first overseas thermal power project developed by State Power Investment Corporation under the China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The CPHGC project, loca­ted in Hub, Balochistan, is a joint venture between China-Pakistan Inter­na­tional Holding — a state owned entity — and the Hub Power Company Ltd (Hubco) with 74 per cent and 26pc ownership respectively.

Recently, Hubco announced that it plans to increase its shareholding the project from 26pc to 47.5pc through its wholly owned subsidiary, Hubco Power Holdings. However, the transaction will be consummated after regulatory and corporate approvals from China and Pakistan.

The letter of support for the project was issued in 2016 which includes a power plant and a dedicated coal jetty.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2019